- CYRUS G. BARKER, deceased, was born in Connecticut on the
13th day of May, 1801, and
- his ancestors were numbered among the early Puritan families.
When a lad he left his native State and removed with his parents
to Hampden County, Mass., where he was reared to manhood, and
after attaining his majority was joined in wedlock with Miss
Eliza KING, their union being celebrated Feb. 2, 1826. She was
a most excellent lady and was born in Hampden County on the 8th
day of June, 1802. The young couple began their domestic life
in Green County, N.Y., but subsequently returned to the Bay State,
where they made their home until the spring of 1844, when following
the course of emigration, which was steadily flowing Westward,
they landed in Walworth County, Wis., where they spent the first
summer. The same year removing to Rock County, Mr. BARKER purchased
a farm and immediately engaged in the work of cultivation, the
farm being on section 10, town of Clinton, where his son Judson
C.
now resides. At the time of his arrival in this State, Wisconsin
was yet a territory whose entire population did not exceed the
number of inhabitants now to be found in Rock County; its prairies
were still in their primitive condition, the deer was found in
the forest, and the smoke of the Indian wigwam had scarcely cleared
away.
- Unto Mr. and Mrs. BARKER were born four children who grew
to mature years - Mary G.,
- born July 13, 1827, became the wife of Lorenzo MUZZY, by
whom she had three children, only one of whom, Jennie, is living,
and after the death of her first husband she wedded Dr. George
COVERT, a prominent physician of Clinton, whose sketch appears
elsewhere in this work; Lydia J., who was born June 13, 1833,
became the wife of Joseph CAREY, and died on the 25th day of
April, 1850; Judson C., born in Hampden County, Mass., Feb. 17,
1839, and George J., born Nov. 6, 1842, completes the family.
- In early life Mr. BARKER was a Whig and a great admirer of
William Henry Harrison, and on
- the organization of the Republican party was among the first
to espouse its cause and affiliated with that body until his
death. He and his wife were members of the Congregational Church
of Clinton, and were earnest and sincere Christian people, earnestly
endeavoring to follow in the teachings of their Master. He died
in the fall of 1870, and his death was sincerely mourned by a
large circle of friends and acquaintances. Sympathetic, warm-hearted
and charitable, he was ever ready to help those who tried to
help themselves, but the sluggard appealed to him in vain. To
his energetic disposition and business ability may be attributed
to his success in life. He was upright and honest in all his
dealings, systematic and methodical, and accumulated a large
property, owning at one time 1,200 acres of fine prairie land.
To know him was to respect and admire him. He was genial and
true-hearted, and though old in years still retained the youthful
spirits of boyhood. His conversation was racy and his laugh
was as exhilarating as wine. Though often solicited to accept
public office, he always steadily refused with the exception
of one time, when he served as trustee. Mrs. BARKER also was
known and honored throughout the community. Her Christian graces,
her high nobility of character, her kindness and her loving disposition
won her the love of all, and more by her example than by her
precept did she teach the way of true life. She was called to
her final rest some years ago, but was ready to respond to the
Master's summons.
-
- Taken from "The Portrait and Biographical Album of
Rock County, Wis." (c)1889, pp. 428-429.
-
- Courtesy of Carol
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